(Collaborative post) Improving your efficiency at work relies mainly on making changes in two important areas. Firstly, how your time is used during work hours. Secondly, the equipment and resources that you have available whether you are working for yourself or someone else. If you can contribute to a more efficiently operated business, the more successful it and you will be. This is crucial with the global pandemic having left the economy in a state of disarray. If you can help the company you work for perform well, it will most often than not result in you reaping the rewards.
Getting Organised at Work
Think about how you usually tend to begin each day. Do you manage your larger tasks by splitting them into smaller, less intimidating chunks? Do you arrange each of your tasks into a list of priorities? If not, it’s probably something you should consider doing going forward, as it will help you feel more organised and improve your productivity. Ticking off the urgent tasks first will prevent any last-minute chaos before you finish for the day. Work to deadlines ahead of those of the clients to avoid last-minute panics if something unexpected arises.
Taking Breaks is Important
Taking regular breaks is important for productivity. Having time away from your desk might not seem like the most efficient thing to do but it has its benefits. If you do not move around and rest your eyes, you may start to suffer with muscle aches and even eye strain. This is not conducive to an efficient working environment. Leave your desk every now and again, try to go outside for a little fresh air. When you come back to your desk, you will feel far more refreshed and ready to check off the next thing on your list.
Limit Distractions
Try using breaks to check personal messages and have a catch-up with your colleagues so that you don’t feel tempted to do this while you should be working. In many cases, your boss (whether that’s you or someone else) knows how productive you are. It helps to turn off your personal phone or have it on silent so that messages or phone call do not cause distraction.
Work Equipment
When it comes to the equipment and resources at work, lots are guilty of being quite wasteful. I saw this when I for another business that was not my own years ago. If there is a way you can help yours or an employers business reduce their spending, it can cut a considerable chunk off of the annual expenditure. For instance, many offices have water machines or coffee machines with plastic cups. Eco-friendly reusable cups not only save money but also reduce environmental waste.
The same can be said about print habits. Printing and photocopying are not always necessary and is quite often an area of unnecessary waste. Double-sided printing, only printing or copying when necessary can help considerably. If you’re running your own business, consider printing large jobs at off-peak times when electricity is cheaper. Send digital copies of documents to reduce paper and ink use. Switch off your computer at night to minimise electricity being used unnecessarily. It’s crucial to think about the ways in which we can all use work equipment more efficiently to keep bills low.
Keep Your Desk Tidy
It may sound peculiar but having a tidy desk can affect productivity. Having a messy desk can result in time wasted looking for items needed. By keeping your desk organised and clutter-free it means you can find what you need easily and your mind will be more relaxed too.
Conclusion
It doesn’t take much for us all to improve our efficacy whilst working. These simple tips will help in both an employed and self-employed setting. Be sure to use them and see how much more productive and environmentally friendly you become.
Good luck x
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Written by Melanie Edjourian.
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“Taking Breaks is Important”– this sentence really hit me. Sometimes, I tend to see breaks as a waste of time. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Nice article on improving work productivity. Will surely try these. I would have also liked to read about products that help with increasing efficiency. Especially in the work from home scenario!
Thank you so much for including breaks! It frustrates me so much that people seem to think that productivity means never stopping, we need breaks to re-energise ourselves so that we can work more effectively x
I need to focus on ”Limit distraction”! Probably the things that I need to improve the most….I can easily jump from one thing to another!
These are all great advice. I always keep my desk tidy everyday. However, my biggest obstacle is avoiding distractions. I have to keep my phone far away from me, and hide the TV remote.
Love the tip on keeping your desk tidy! So true! I’m much more productive in a tidy clean environment!
I think these are helpful tips. I do take breaks when I need to– though sometimes when I have a deadline, I reduce the number of breaks I take. But I must say that it is really important otherwise one will be burnt out.
You’re right in that it’s the little things that help to keep us efficient and effective at work. Taking breaks is really important and I’m learning that more and more.
I struggle so much with most this! I think the biggest one is limiting distractions because there are so many!
I agree with a tidy desk. When my work area is busy, I don’t wanna work. Thanks for the tips! Please share more about virtual work!
For me it’s move my phone away and ensure I don’t get hungry!! haha. Then I find I can work for ages 🙂 Music helps too weirdly!
Great advice here, especially as a lot of us are heading back to work after being off for so long.
It’s a perfect time to start new habits x
I work so much better when I have a tidy area and when I take breaks. I can often get really tired because I forget to take time off.
I have to have a tidy desk. It really distracts me otherwise.
There are some really good tips here for sure. I always find that a good tidy up makes a world of difference for sure x
These are some great tips. I always have a “To Do” list and break tasks down into easy chunks and it’s always very satisfying when things get ticked off the list
Great advice. The distractions is the worst part for me and I’m rubbish at taking proper breaks.
Great tips! I work from home so need to be really disciplined if I want to get stuff done. I am easily distracted so you’re right about minimising the distractions around you x
Great tips! Must remember to take regular breaks while working
Its hard to deal with distractions sometimes. I easily get distracted by emails and my kids,
I know what you mean. It isn’t always easy when you are struggling to focus.